Van Holten’s has taken the pickle out of the pouch but left the juice. Pickle-Ice is a 2-oz. freeze pop made with Van Holten’s pickle juice and enhanced with electrolytes. This refresher can be consumed frozen or un-frozen and is a sugar-free alternative to sports drinks, according to Waterloo, Wisconsin-based Van Holten’s. “Pickle-Ice is real […]
Author Archives: Shelby Report Staff
The Shelby Report newsroom covers the grocery industry for retailers, wholesalers and suppliers. Staff reports include store openings, executive appointments, company announcements and industry event coverage. Since 1967, The Shelby Report has covered supermarkets, grocery chains and independent grocers through five regional editions.
Posted in, Southeast, Store News
Kroger Nearly Doubles The Size Of Decatur, Georgia, Store
Kroger has expanded its Decatur, Georgia, store at 2875 N. Decatur Road by more than 47,000 s.f., increasing the location’s total square footage to nearly 114,000 s.f. The store celebrated the expansion with a grand reopening ceremony Wednesday morning. The expansion adds an estimated 35 new jobs to the Decatur community near Atlanta. “Kroger has […]
Posted in, Northeast
Companies Working To Capture Shopping Habits Through Smartphone App
Boston-based Mobee, involved with data and insights for brands, retail and hedge funds, has formed a strategic alliance with Nielsen to develop the “Nielsen Product Diary.” Created in the form of an easy-to-use mobile product diary, this application captures consumer habits and product usage behaviors in real time. With this tool, the ability to report […]
Posted in, Northeast
With Merger, NECSA Renames Itself To Include Oil Marketers Group
The Independent Oil Marketers of New England (IOMA) and the New England Convenience Store Association (NECSA) will merge Nov 1. to form a new organization: the New England Convenience Store & Energy Marketers Association, or NECSEMA. According to NECSA Executive Director Steve Ryan, “With particular thanks to NECSA President Leo Vercollone and IOMA Chairman Jon […]
Posted in, Northeast
Research Finds Taste Shift And Cost Result In Restaurant Beverage Order Decline
Although consumers order a beverage 70 percent of the time when visiting restaurants and other food service outlets, beverage orders have declined 4 percent, or two billion servings, over a five-year period. Consumers changing tastes and cost consciousness are behind declines, finds a new NPD food service market research report. There are more growing beverages at […]
Posted in, Northeast
JOH Acquires H&H Specialty Food Associates
JOH, Billerica, Massachusetts, has acquired H&H Specialty Food Associates of Red Bank, New Jersey, a full-service specialty, ethnic and natural food broker. The addition of H&H will provide complimentary resources and broader support to JOH clients and customers in the specialty, ethnic and natural food categories in the metro New York/New Jersey and Mid-Atlantic markets, according […]
Posted in, Northeast
VERC, Sheetz And Flory’s Featured In NACS Ideas 2 Go, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… VERC Enterprises, Sheetz and Flory’s Convenience & Deli of New York were named to the NACS 2015 Ideas 2 Go, showcasing emerging concepts that redefine convenience. VERC tested a program to provide work to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities that also significantly increased company culture. VERC expanded the program […]
Posted in, Northeast
Boston Convention Bureau Hosts Restaurant Technology Panel, And More…
Food Service News In Brief… The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau will host a Hospitality Exchange, a conversation about the current technology opportunities in the restaurant business, on Monday, Oct. 26, at the Marriott Copley Place, beginning at 3 p.m. Panelists include Christopher Coombs, chef-owner of Boston Urban Hospitality; Steve DiFillipo, CEO of Davios […]
Posted in, Northeast
Walmart Names Food Exec As Chief Merchandising Officer, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Walmart U.S. has appointed Steve Bratspies as its chief merchandising officer for U.S. stores, effective Oct. 19. Bratspies will oversee all merchandise categories across more than 4,500 stores in the U.S. business. Most recently, Bratspies served as EVP of food for Walmart U.S. where he overhauled the retailer’s grocery aisles […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Store News, West
Mother’s Market Celebrating Anniversary On Saturday
Mother’s Market & Kitchen, a natural and organic foods retailer with seven Orange County, California, locations, will celebrate its 37th anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the company’s Santa Ana store located at 151 E. Memory Lane. The special event will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and is free and open to the public. […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Suppliers
SABMiller Agrees To Merge With AB In-Bev
The fourth time is apparently the charm, as SABMiller has agreed “in principle” to merge with Anheuser-Busch InBev. AB InBev on Monday confirmed another offer to buy SABMiller for about 67.4 billion pounds, or $103.6 billion. The bid is more than a pound more per share (43.50) than its previous offer of GBP 42.15, which […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Suppliers
A-B InBev Ups Bid, Again, For SAB Miller
Anheuser-Busch InBev really wants to merge with SABMiller in order to make a global beer giant. The company today confirmed another offer to buy SABMiller for about 67.4 billion pounds, or $103.6 billion. The bid is more than a pound more per share (43.50) than its previous offer of 42.15, which SABMiller rejected less than […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Executive News, Southwest
Biggs To Succeed Holley As Walmart’s CFO
Brett Biggs will succeed Walmart CFO Charles Holley, who has elected to retire. The change takes effect Dec. 31. Holley will stay on until Jan. 31, 2016, to help with the transition. Holley, 59, has served as Walmart’s EVP and CFO since December 2010. Since January 2014, Biggs has served as EVP and CFO of Walmart […]
Posted in, Center Store, Grocery News, Marketing News, Midwest
Carlin O’Brien Becomes Carlin Group
Carlin O’Brien, a privately owned full-service brokerage and member of BeaconUnited, is changing its name to Carlin Group—a name change the company says better reflects the regional CPG sales and marketing agency it has become. The news comes as Carlin Group participates in this year’s National Association of Convenience Stores and the National Frozen and […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Marketing News, National, Suppliers
Facts Up Front Featured On Lifetime
A Lifetime show airing this month features Facts Up Front and how this innovative front-of-pack labeling can help people shop for food and prepare balanced and healthier meals, according to the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA). The Balancing Act segment first aired Oct. 8 and will be broadcast again on Oct. 15, in addition to being […]
Posted in, Northeast
Stop & Shop Begins Converting 25 Former A&P Stores In Greater New York
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. said Oct. 8 that it has begun converting 25 A&P stores it is acquiring. During this process, groups of up to five stores will temporarily close for approximately seven days and all of the conversions are expected to be completed by Nov. 13. The first wave of Stop & […]
Posted in, Produce News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, West
When Size Matters: Calif. Drought Raises Questions About How We Buy, Grow Food
by Karen Caplan/Special to The Shelby Report It always bugs me when I go into a produce department and all the fruits are so large. You know what I mean—strawberries the size of billiard balls, apples and oranges (or even bananas) so big that you could split the fruit with a friend! And these big […]
Posted in, Bakery News, Dairy News, Deli News, National
IDDBA Elects 2015-16 Officers, Board Of Directors
The International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA) recently elected its 2015-16 officers and board of directors at its annual business meeting in Chicago. John Cheesman, VP of business development, Clyde’s Delicious Donuts, was elected as the association’s chairman of the board. He has served on the board of directors since 2006 and has been actively involved in […]
Posted in, Northeast
Report: C-Stores Poised To Grow Better-For-You Sales
Convenience stores are poised to capitalize on the growing trend of shoppers seeking healthy, more convenient products, according to a new Hudson Institute report. “Consumers’ desire for convenience is a growing trend and a notable convenience store opportunity,” according to “Health & Wellness Trends and Strategies for the Convenience Store Sector,” a report commissioned by […]
Posted in, Northeast
Operators Come Out In Force Against Boston Alcohol Tax Plan
The Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA) recently joined with operators to testify against a city of Boston proposal that would add a 1 to 2 percent tax on all alcohol transactions within the city. The hearing was the second this year on the proposal. Boston City council members heard directly from both large and small operators about the […]